Real Estate
December/Year-End La Plata County Residential Sales Numbers
This week we have the December/year-end numbers for 2018. With 76 total sales for the month of December, it was a decent month, although slightly lower than several recent December transaction totals, and also lower than the total number of sales for December 2017. With 1,155 total sales for the year, it was a solid year, although still slightly behind the total for 2017. Still, this has been the second-highest total number of...
Real Estate Investing in 2019
As we begin a new year, you may be considering your financial goals and priorities. Perhaps you are considering investments and making plans. Is real estate investing on your agenda? There are several positive reasons to consider adding a real estate investment to your portfolio. We’ll take a high-level approach to some of the benefits. Intrinsic Value: Real estate is a “real” asset. You can see, feel, and touch it. Whereas some...
HomesFund Record-Breaking Year
2018 was a record-breaking year for HomesFund, providing: 47 Mortgage Assistance Loans to 38 households containing 112 people $917,467 in Mortgage Assistance Loans for low- and moderate-income families Homebuyer Education to more than 275 people Homebuyer Counseling to more than 100 households Visit www.jimwotkyns.com and click “Homebuyer Education Class” at the bottom of my homepage to view the class schedule. I currently serve on...
Traveling This Holiday? Remember These Home Safety Tips
This time of year, many will be traveling to spend Christmas and New Years with family or friends. While Durango is one of the safest places to live, it’s still prudent to exercise caution when you leave your home over the holidays. Here are a few tips: Don’t let packages, newspapers or mail pile up. If you expect deliveries (as many Americans utilize Amazon, Target, and other online retailers for shopping), be sure to ask a neighbor...
Winter Heating Safety Tips from DFRA
Do you use wood-burning stoves or fireplaces to warm your home in winter? While they may be convenient and inexpensive, wood-burning appliances can be dangerous. Here are a few safety tips for winter heating.
Durango to Chicago O’Hare air service on American Airlines seasonally in 2019
American Airlines Announces Seasonal Chicago Service for 2019 The Durango-La Plata County Airport (DRO) is pleased to announce that American Airlines will add seasonal nonstop service between Chicago O’Hare International Airport (ORD) and Durango in 2019. One round trip flight will operate each Saturday beginning June 8th through August 17th, on a 70 seat Bombardier CRJ-700 aircraft.Tickets for the new route can be purchased at...
November Colorado Association of Realtors Numbers
This week, we have the latest real estate numbers for La Plata County for the month of November. The attached charts show a detailed breakdown of several market segments in La Plata County, showing La Plata County as a whole, Durango In-Town, Durango Rural, Bayfield In-Town, Bayfield Rural, Ignacio In-Town, Ignacio Rural, and Durango Mountain Area. These charts indicate the statistics and key metrics for single family homes and...
The Wells Group Holiday Block Party
The Wells Group recently moved office locations, and we are now located at 1130 Main Avenue, just up the street from our previous office. This is an exciting move for our company, as it is a larger space, we now own the building, and we love the look of the office! This Friday evening, December 14, we are hosting a block party, in conjunction with the Bank of Colorado. It will go from 5-9 between 11th and 12th street. If you bring an...
November La Plata County Real Estate Transactions
We are nearing the end of the year, and as we look at La Plata County real estate transactions for the month of November, we see a standout month in terms of total number of transactions. With 102 total sales, this is the highest November since prior to 2010. It’s only slightly below October in terms of total transactions, which is surprising given the fact late fall tends to be a stronger time of the year than the holiday months....
Is Real Estate Dead During the Holidays?
This is a common myth at this time of year. In fact, many people will take their homes off the market during the holidays/winter and list again during the spring (which is typically referred to as the “Spring Selling Season.)” While there are benefits and strategies that vary depending on each situation, we believe the holiday season is oftentimes a fantastic time to buy and sell, and below are some reasons. More Serious Buyers and...
Holiday Home Safety Tips
After Thanksgiving, many Americans take the holiday weekend to set up Christmas and holiday decorations. We like to remind our clients of some basic home safety tips. According to the Unites States Fire Administration, the following facts apply to the holiday season (https://www.usfa.fema.gov/prevention/outreach/holiday.html): One of every four home Christmas tree fires is caused by electrical problems. Although Christmas tree fires...
This week, we have the latest real estate numbers for La Plata County for the month of October. The attached charts show a detailed breakdown of several market segments in La Plata County, showing La Plata County as a whole, Durango In-Town, Durango Rural, Bayfield In-Town, Bayfield Rural, Ignacio In-Town, Ignacio Rural, and Durango Mountain Area. These charts indicate the statistics and key metrics for single family homes and...
Real Estate In The News
This week we have some real estate news highlights to pass along. The below is a compilation of recent headlines from a national real estate perspective. These topics typically relate to the economy, jobs, or real estate, and are important because these trends oftentimes impact the real estate market. 227,000 Jobs Added in October. According to the ADP and Moody’s Analytics National Employment Report, employment increased by 227,000...
The Importance of Carbon Monoxide Detectors
Home safety is a topic we want to keep as a priority in communicating with our clients. It can be easy to own a home and neglect safety items and maintenance when life gets busy. One of the most important home safety factors is to ensure installation and maintenance of carbon monoxide detectors. Did you know carbon monoxide is colorless and odorless? It is produced by burning fuel in cars or trucks, small engines, lanterns, stoves,...
Tips to Winterize Your Home
It’s the time of year we start anticipating snow and dropping temperatures. Every year, we like to remind our clients about some simple housekeeping tips to prepare your home for winter. Below are a few suggestions for you as we enter into the colder time of year. Remove hose from spigot. We remind our clients of this every year, but the importance cannot be overstated. When hoses are attached and freezing temperatures occur, frozen...
La Plata County Real Estate Statistics from the Colorado Association of Realtors – September
This week, we have the latest real estate numbers for La Plata County for the month of September. The attached charts show a detailed breakdown of several market segments in La Plata County, showing La Plata County as a whole, Durango In-Town, Durango Rural, Bayfield In-Town, Bayfield Rural, Ignacio In-Town, Ignacio Rural, and Durango Mountain Area. These charts indicate the statistics and key metrics for single family homes and...
September La Plata County Real Estate Numbers
This week we have the September residential real estate numbers for La Plata County. With 91 total sales, it was slightly lower than last September 2017, which had 97 total sales. It is also below last month, but this is a common trend in our area as summer is our peak season and fall starts to slow down a bit. Year to date we are at 870 total sales. Last year at this time there were a total of 891 sales, so 2018 is pacing slightly...
Real Estate in the News
For our communication this week, we compiled a few of the headlines making recent real estate news. These topics impact housing and the economy, and therefore oftentimes the local real estate market. Take a look at some recent news: Federal Reserve Raises Interest Rates: The Federal Reserve raised the interest rates this week, for the third time this year. The rates rose a quarter percentage point, to a range of 2% to 2.25%. Chairman...
La Plata County August Real Estate Numbers
This week we have the August La Plata County residential real estate transaction numbers. With 131 total sales, it was higher than last month, and just short of the total from August of 2017. Year to date, we are at 779 total sales. Last year at this time there were 794 total sales. So, this has been a solid year, although slightly behind last year’s numbers year to date. The median sales price is $380,000. This is higher than any...
Mold and Homes
Mold is one of those household problems people fear. Of course, it’s undesirable, but it can be manageable. First, it’s important to understand where mold grows and its origin. It can be both indoors and outdoors, and can attach itself to various items such as clothing or shoes and be carried indoors. Once inside, it grows in moist places. It can grow around leaks, or in wallpaper, drywall, fabric, or even ceiling tiles. If you do...
Featured Real Estate
Jim Wotkyns – Real Estate Blog
- STUDENTS – Enroll at Fort Lewis College (FLC) Next Year to Ski for FREE! January 10, 2019
- Durango Skiing Right In-Town January 4, 2019
- HomesFund Record-Breaking Year December 28, 2018
- Durango to Chicago O’Hare air service on American Airlines seasonally in 2019 December 13, 2018
- The 50 Best Places to Work in 2018 by OUTSIDE (November 1, 2018) November 15, 2018